Identical twin brothers enjoy a game of switching personas… until the untimely death of one turns the “game” permanent for the surviving brother.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Yuu Morikawa
Translation/Adaptation: Emma Schumacker
What They Say:
Plain, redheaded, and freckled John has nothing going for him, except there’s one thing he’s proud of―he’s best friends with the two popular and mischievous twins Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll (the calm and collected older brother) and Hyde (the cheerful younger brother) love switching places, and John is the only one who can tell them apart. But when the pair is fragmented by an untimely death, one twin is left alone without his “other self” by his side. The only question is―is he Jekyll, or is he Hyde?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
John Utterson attends a British boarding school where he is best friends with the Stevenson twins: the prim and proper Jekyll and the charming and carefree Hyde. The twins frequently swap personas, and no one is the wiser, except for John, who can tell them apart no matter what. So when a Stevenson brother dies in an accident, John is the only one who realizes the surviving twin isn’t who everyone thinks he is…
It’s a little difficult to categorize this as a standalone story. Perhaps British boarding school mystery drama? But the mystery isn’t the typical whodunit where someone dies and characters track down the killer. Rather, a twin dies under absolutely non-suspicious circumstances, and you have to figure out who the remaining twin actually is. More importantly, you have to figure out why he behaves as he does.
Despite the character names, Hyde is not evil, and the narrative involves no nefarious schemes. However, the twins mirror the original Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in that the personalities they show the world are their joint creation, those personas are vastly different and distinct, and they can be assumed by either brother. While the twins and John treat these switcheroos as a fun game, things take on a much somber tone when one brother dies in an accident. Everyone believes Jekyll is the deceased Stevenson twin, but not long after the funeral, John realizes “Hyde” is actually Jekyll impersonating his brother.
The first part of the story has John – the one person to realize the truth of “Hyde’s” identity–watching over his bereaved friend and wondering why he’s continuing to playact his brother. The exchange of letters signed “Jekyll” and the run-ins with the prefects Benjamin and Roche in this initial arc are somewhat confusing. However, these events set the stage for “Hyde” to receive a cryptic message from Roche, a message that makes him realize his twin had been hiding something from him.
Things get more interesting from that point on as “Hyde” and John work together to get to the bottom of this secret. The deeper they dig, the more they find themselves questioning whether the bonds of friendship and brotherhood they thought they shared were genuine. This mystery primarily gets unraveled through flashbacks and conversations that take place at their family homes and at school. So there are no great adventures, and despite the students’ ghost stories, no supernatural elements.
Regarding illustrations, the manga does a nice job with the Victorian-era clothing and a British boarding school setting. The all-male cast is heavy on bishounen. Even John, who describes himself as plain, comes off as cute. Expressions are spot on, drawings brim with emotion, and you can always tell which “persona” the brothers are assuming.
Extras include the title page printed in color and afterword.
In Summary:
This is a story about secrets between friends and between brothers. So despite the character names, there’s no psycho murdering people. Rather, it’s about how jealousy and longing can warp identity and perception. If a melancholy tale with a classic Victorian boarding school setting appeals to you, this title is worth a try.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: B+
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: April 16th, 2024
MSRP: $15.99
